Our Partnership

MR. LAWSON: Today is a proud occasion in the history of The Empire Club of Canada. Although this Club has been in existence for 57 years and although our guests have embraced political personalities from the four corners of the Globe, today marks only the third time in our long history that we have been honoured by a visit from the Premier of our neighbouring Province of Quebec. In 1912 we were addressed by the Honourable Mr. Taschereau and then in 1940 by the Honourable Adelard Godbout, Premier at that time. Thus, 20 years have passed since the official voice of Quebec has been heard at this forum. It is time indeed that this situation should be changed. We are delighted to have you with us, sir, and this imposing head table, including our own Premier, and this impressive attendance display our pleasure at your visit.

The Hon. Antonio Barrette, Premier and also Minister of Labour of the Province of Quebec, has had an amazing career. He was born in 1899. His formal education was limited. He left school at the age of fourteen and was hired as a messenger at the C.N.R. Shop in Joliette on the night shift. For these services he was paid the princely sum of five cents an hour for thirteen hours of night work. Needless to say, in those days the C.N.R. did not boast of such handsome deficits as it now enjoys.

In 1936 he commenced his brilliant political career. I should mention, too, that Mr. Barrette is a past secretary of the International Association of Machinists of which he is still a member in good standing, and acted as Chairman of the Regional War Labour Board. He has received Honorary Degrees from Laval University, from Montreal University and from Bishop's University.

I am told that his popularity with the citizens of Joliette is unparalleled. He is known to everybody there as "Tonio". He has been successively re-elected, always with increased majorities, in the same County, from 1936 to the last election in 1956. He has played a decisive part in the labour field in his Province. He has advocated progressive labour legislation. He has devoted countless hours to the successful mediation of labour disputes.

And now he has assumed even greater responsibilities. The Hon. Antonio Barrette took his oath of office as Premier of the Province of Quebec on the 8th of January of this year, a few days after the death of the Hon. Paul Sauve, who had succeeded the Hon. Maurice Duplessis, father of the National Union Party. It is characteristic of this man that he had not presented himself as candidate for the office left vacant by the death of the Hon. Paul Sauve; and he only accepted the task of directing the Government of the Province when complete unanimity concerning his choice had been attained amongst the Legislative Counsellors, the Ministers and the Deputies of the National Union Party assembled at a "caucus" in Quebec on January 7th.

There have been eighteen Premiers of Quebec since Confederation. Of these eighteen, thirteen were lawyers, two were doctors, one was a notary, and one an agronomist; but only the eighteenth, Mr. Barrette, can proudly call himself, a genuine workman.

Mr. Barrette, we give you a hearty welcome to The Empire Club. And we ask you now to address us with a very fitting theme--"Our Partnership".

THE HONOURABLE ANTONIO BARRETTE: The first invitation I received to address a Club, after I became Premier of Quebec, was the one that was so cordially extended to me in your name, by Mr. Jupp. Being desirous to meet the best of people, so that I would only have nice things to say about Ontario to the citizens of Quebec upon my return home, I availed myself of this opportunity to come to Toronto and promised solemnly about two months ago that I would be here on the 7th of April. I tell you right now how pleased I am to be your guest this noon, and I wish, in the same breath, to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your kind words of welcome and for the good sentiments you expressed towards the people of Quebec.

Now, gentlemen, what could I tell you that could be of some interest to you? There is nothing you don't already know about Ontario, and it would be of very poor taste to speak only of Quebec and talk about the wonderful accomplishments that have materialized very recently in my Province. Moreover, I don't intend to try and express new ideas on old topics or old ideas on new issues. Neither did I come here to preach a new doctrine, a new canadianism, or a new political philosophy.

As you also know, the title of a talk does not mean anything. So, the title of the address I am supposed to give here today offers me a wide choice of subjects. I wish to assure you that I don't intend to abuse your hospitality, because I wish to create a good impression here and also because I am convinced you don't like long speeches; and I must remember that Mr. Frost has very graciously invited me to visit officially the Ontario Legislature this afternoon.

Gentlemen, taking all this into consideration, you may rest assured that you will have plenty of time to do an honest half a day's work between my so-called lecture and your dinner this evening. You all know about this speaker who was giving a talk and who began by saying that an address had to resemble the dress of a pretty woman. It had to be low from the top--and high from the bottom. It had to be long enough to cover the subject but short at both ends. What would I tell you in about twenty minutes that would resemble the dress of a pretty woman in this respect? With this in mind, I abandon the idea of delivering a lecture and decide to tell you that I come here very simply to pay you a visit.

As, naturally, I will be for many years Premier of Quebec and will have, I hope, the advantage of being invited again to Toronto or elsewhere in Ontario, I will have other occasions to speak outside of my Province about the participation of Quebec to the wealth of Canada and its contribution to the welfare of the Canadian people. Our vast country "a mari usque ad mare" is not too large since we need all the ten Provinces to go from sea to sea.

If a part of our country were separated from us, if some Provinces or even one Province would cease to contribute to our national life, at any of its levels, or would diminish its participation in any of the fields of our activities, we would all be weaker and poorer not only materially but also spiritually and culturally. If the emulation between our Sister-Provinces ever decreases, it will be a loss not only for Ontario and Quebec but for the whole of Canada. This emulation between our Provinces in the economic and social fields translates itself into economic progress; this friendly emulation is not something new, it goes back to the first part of the last century, when Ontario and Quebec fought together--in the real sense of these words.

Later on, the political leaders struggled long and hard to destroy the Family Compact and to establish the rule of democracy. Time and again, from then on, the political leaders of our Provinces have entered into partnership for the defence of their rights and for the protection of democracy against bureaucracy. There is never an end to that vigilance, as free enterprise, private ownership and individual freedom will always be threatened, from certain sources, and must always be safeguarded and protected.

I may say that today the partnership between Ontario and Quebec finds its expression in joint endeavours to create economic progress and to stimulate social progress. I could quote several instances of the beneficial effects that have derived from our partnership. Let me mention some examples: the Seaway, the harnessing of the Carillon Rapid on the Outaouais River for the production of hydro-electric power which will provide our industries in Ontario and Quebec with the additional power they require to increase their production and productiveness.

I am with you today as a partner, a neighbour, and a friend. Quebec offers to Ontario a partnership, an alliance, a friendship, which it knows in advance, from past history, that Ontario does reciprocate; a partnership, an alliance, a friendship with a threefold aim: the safeguarding of political freedom and free enterprise which are indivisible; the stimulation of industrial expansion, and the acceleration of social, educational and cultural advances. We are happy of the achievements of Ontario in all sectors of economy, and I frankly say that the beneficial results of your progress are felt in Quebec. In turn, we hope that what has been accomplished in Quebec may also provide a source of inspiration for Ontario. When we want to know in Quebec if we have accomplished something really worthwhile, in the fields of education, public health, development of natural resources, we compare what we have done with what has been achieved here. Will you allow me to say that sometimes we are also very happy and proud of our own achievements, especially when we think that we have done at least as well as you have done yourselves, and I add immediately that you set up the goal pretty high for us.

It shall be said here and now, that the industrial expansion going on in our two Provinces brings with it an improvement in the standard of living for the people of Ontario and Quebec, which make up for at least two thirds of the population of Canada. Furthermore, this industrial expansion sustains the economy of the country. We have many things in common: taxes, labour income, profits, standard of living, social progress, vast natural resources, industrialization, and great hopes for the future. Profits of industry mean better wages. The taxes paid by industry mean social security. The production of our industries, in Ontario and Quebec, means a higher standard of living for the entire country.

Gentlemen, as I said at the outset of those brief remarks, it has been a genuine pleasure coming here today and talking to you at this luncheon. However, I feel that this is more than just a courtesy visit during which best wishes are exchanged. There is something empty and superficial about courtesy visits, and I don't think they add much to the good relations which should exist between not only Ontario and Quebec, but all the Provinces of Canada.

I am sure you all are aware of the changes which have taken place during the past quarter century in the relations between Ontario and Quebec. Although it may not be pleasant to recall, I think you will admit with me that in the not too distant past many differences of opinion existed between the English-speaking population of your Province and the French-speaking population of Quebec. Today, I am happy to say, these differences have, to a great extent, disappeared. And I think that they have disappeared largely because during the past 25 years we have come to know one another better and understood one another better.

Today, Ontario and Quebec want to work together. But I would like to make it clear that we want to work together not "against" any group or "against" any government but for a cause, an ideal for the people of Canada and with all those who believe that provincial diversities are an enrichment to the country.

The tremendous economic development which is expected in Canada during the next few years poses serious problems ... problems which require strong leadership if they are to be solved. Ontario and Quebec, working in co-operation with the other governments of Canada, can help provide this leadership.

THANKS OF THE MEETING were expressed by Brig. W. S. Rutherford.